Children\'s Rights Towards the Future

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

President Joko Widodo attended the peak event of National Children\'s Day, Friday (23/7/2021).

Fulfilling the basic rights of the child amidst the Covid-19 pandemic is important to secure the nation\'s future. Not a few Indonesian children have died of Covid-19.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The commemoration of National Children\'s Day in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic is an occasion to remind the Indonesian people to prioritize children’s basic rights to protection, life, and development, as well as their right to participation. Fulfilling their rights will ensure that children develop optimally, because they are the future of the nation.

At the peak of the celebrations to mark National Children\'s Day 2021, themed "Protect Children, Advance Indonesia", President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo emphasized that children were the future of Indonesia. The President also urged children to be enthusiastic about learning, even though they were not at school because the Covid-19 pandemic did not allow for in-class learning.

The President conveyed his message in a virtual event from Bogor Palace in West Java to fifth graders of SD Sudimara elementary school in Cilongok, Banyumas regency, Central Java. A video of the event was uploaded to the YouTube channels of the Presidential Secretariat and the Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry on Friday (23/7/2021).

The virtual event was also attended by fifth Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly.

“Children must be enthusiastic about learning. Keep learning even when you are not in school," said President Jokowi.

Also read :

Protect the Children

Children as Teacher of Life

During the event, a student asked, "What do you do as a president?" The president laughed and answered, “[Well], presiding over a meeting with ministers. Go from Aceh to Papua, check if the roads are good or not, check reservoirs, ports, airports.”

In closing his greeting, President Jokowi reminded the children to always wear masks, wash their hands with soap, and maintain a safe distance. He also called on them to remind their friends and neighbors to always wear masks when leaving the house.

In closing his greeting, President Jokowi reminded the children to always wear masks, wash their hands with soap, and maintain a safe distance.

KOMPAS/KRISTIAN OKA PRASETYADI

A boy is given Covid-19 vaccine in Kleak, Malalayang, Manado, North Sulawesi, Wednesday (14/7/2021).

Minister Bintang said the theme “Protect Children, Advance Indonesia” was hoped to serve as a reminder to all people that we will not achieve an advanced Indonesia without fulfilling the basic rights of children.

These basic rights included the right to live, grow and develop, protection, and participation. The fulfillment of these rights required the support of parents, society and the state, said Bintang "These rights support optimal development in children," she said.

These basic rights included the right to live, grow and develop, protection, and participation.

Yasonna said the Indonesian Constitution clearly stated that every child had the right to survive, grow and develop. "The state is responsible for ensuring that children\'s rights are fulfilled," he said.

Megawati also believed that Indonesian children were capable of working hard to realize their dreams. She continued with a message from Bung Karno, the father of the Indonesian nation: "Hang your dreams as high as the stars in the sky."

"Why? If you fall, you will fall among the stars. What a beautiful dream that is," she said.

Vulnerable

Arman Pulungan, the chairman of the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI), highlighted that mortality among pediatric Covid-19 patients in Indonesia was high. There were more than 100 child deaths due to Covid-19 per week over the last three weeks. The data showed that most pediatric patients had comorbidities such as obesity and tuberculosis (TB).

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Children with Thalassemia are receiving medical treatment at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital’s (RSCM) Kiara Mother and Child Health Center in Jakarta. RSCM joined hands with the University of Indonesia’s (UI) School of Medicine to establish the Kiara Mother and Child Health Center.

Referring to the data, Arman stressed that children’s nutrition and physical activity should be maintained so they did not become obese, while TB should be treated.

Also read :

Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout for Children to Begin Soon

Taking Care of Indonesian Children

A study published on 22 July 2021 in scientific journal Nature explored the link between malnutrition and Covid-19. The study stated that children with a history of malnutrition were at higher risk of developing severe Covid-19, because malnutrition hindered the proper functioning of the immune system. Obesity is a result of the lack of proper nutrition.

(AIK/SON/CAS)

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)